dan Armstrong joined Queen of the South as a 16-year-old goalkeeper with dreams of a playing career.
twelve years later, he is the chief executive of the Scottish League 1 side - one of the youngest people in such a role in
Dan Ilic was told he was too small to make it as a professional footballer, but he has found a different path in the game.
The 36-year-old is head of community engagement at Dundee United,having previously worked for Queen of the South and the SPFL Trust.
Ilic, who is 5ft 9in, was a goalkeeper who was given a chance by Queen of the South after being released by Rangers.
“At that point nobody else was looking at me as a 5ft 9in goalie,” he said.
“All I wanted to do was to be a footballer, so when the possibility came, I came up to palmerston and I loved it.”
Though, it did not pan out as he had hoped.
“I played here for three years but,again,familiar story – I was really rubbish and that brought to an end the football career,” he said.
That could have been the end of the road in the sport,as it is indeed for so many aspiring footballers,but the south of Scotland club had other ideas.
During his playing days, Dan was “injured quite a lot” and while he had a broken arm he had got involved in an SPFL Trust schools’ water project - teaching the importance of hydration.
He said the club had so many initiatives on the go that he was able to quickly switch from playing to off-the-pitch activities.
“One day I’d been pulled in by the manager at the time and he said: ‘Obviously we’re not renewing your contract’,” he said.
“I said: ‘I sort of gathered that, and that’s probably a good decision for everybody involved, as I’m not going to be a consistent first-team player at all’.”
Queen of the SouthIt has seen the Doonhamers reach out to locals in a wide range of ways including coaching, school visits, mental health initiatives and even running a food bank.
“We just want people to engage in sport in a positive manner,” said Dan.
His vision and energy helped him become commercial manager – with the club putting him through his Masters in buisness.
Then, when the board announced plans to stand down a couple of years ago, he became chief executive.
Sam Altman is an American entrepreneur and investor best known as the CEO of OpenAI, the company behind ChatGPT and other artificial intelligence technologies. He previously served as president of Y Combinator, a prominent startup accelerator.
Sam Altman: OpenAI CEO and Background
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Sam Altman is the current Chief Executive Officer of OpenAI, a leading artificial intelligence research and deployment company. He assumed the role in March 2023 after previously serving as interim CEO.
Prior to OpenAI, Altman co-founded loopt, a location-based social networking mobile app, and served as its CEO. He then became a part-time investor and advisor, eventually joining Y Combinator in 2011. He became president of Y Combinator in 2014 and stepped down in 2019 to focus on OpenAI.
Example: In November 2023, OpenAI’s board of directors briefly removed Altman as CEO, citing a lack of candor in his communications.However, following notable pressure from investors and employees, he was reinstated as CEO five days later. New York Times Report
Y Combinator Presidency (2014-2019)
Sam Altman served as the president of Y Combinator from 2014 to 2019, substantially expanding the association’s reach and influence within the startup ecosystem.
During his tenure, Y Combinator launched several new initiatives, including Y Combinator Continuity, a fund to invest in later-stage Y Combinator companies, and Y Combinator Research, a non-profit research lab. He also oversaw the launch of YC Startup School, a free online program for aspiring founders.
Detail: Under Altman’s leadership, Y Combinator’s valuation increased substantially, and the organization became a key player in funding and mentoring some of the most triumphant startups of the past decade.
Example: Altman oversaw 30 batches of Y Combinator companies during his presidency, funding over 1,500 startups. TechCrunch Report
OpenAI Leadership and Governance
Sam altman currently leads OpenAI, a company founded in December 2015 with the stated mission to ensure that artificial general intelligence (AGI) benefits all of humanity.
OpenAI’s structure has evolved over time. Initially a non-profit research company, it created a “capped-profit” subsidiary, OpenAI LP, to attract investment. Altman plays a central role in navigating the complex governance structure of OpenAI,balancing the pursuit of cutting-edge AI research with the responsible deployment of its technologies.
Example: In January 2024,OpenAI announced the formation of a new Safety Board,composed of independent experts,to oversee the company’s safety and security efforts. OpenAI Blog Post
Other Affiliations and Investments
beyond OpenAI and Y Combinator, Sam Altman has been involved in various other ventures and initiatives. He is a limited partner at several venture capital firms and has made personal investments in numerous startups.
He has also been a vocal advocate for policies related to artificial intelligence, including the need for regulation and international cooperation. He testified before the U.S. Congress in May 2023 regarding the risks and benefits of AI.
Detail: Altman is a proponent of “global basic income” (UBI) and has conducted research through Y Combinator to explore its feasibility.
Example: altman testified before the Senate Judiciary Committee’s subcommittee on Privacy, Technology, and the Law on May 16, 2023, discussing the potential impact of AI on employment and the need for government oversight. Senate Judiciary Committee Hearing
